Reptile
Oriental Whipsnake
Ahaetulla prasinaAlso known as Asian Vine Snake, Boie's Whip Snake, Gunther's Whip Snake
Oriental whipsnakes are slender, arboreal hunters renowned for their horizontal keyhole-shaped pupils, which afford them exceptional binocular vision to track movement amid dense foliage. They spend daylight hours weaving gracefully through tree canopies and shrubbery, freezing motionless with their heads swaying slightly to mimic branches in the wind. When cornered, these snakes inflate their necks to display striking black and white checkerboard markings between their scales while opening their mouths wide in a defensive posture.
ArborealDiurnalCamouflaged
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGarden lizards, Tree frogs, Geckos
Predators
- King Cobra
- Birds of prey
- Monitor lizards
ThreatsDeforestation, urbanization, and collection for the exotic pet trade
HabitatsLowland rainforests, secondary growth, coastal scrub, agricultural lands, and gardens
Life span8–12 years
Classification
- FamilyColubridae
- GenusAhaetulla
- SpeciesAhaetulla prasina
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskVery high
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is very high
- Rear-fanged with mild venom that causes local swelling; observe without handling.
Responsible observation
- Scanning canopies: Look closely along low branches and bushes for a slender body with keyhole-shaped pupils.
- Handling etiquette: Keep hands away, as captured snakes strike defensively and deliver a mild rear-fanged bite.
Neighbor (c) Oleg Kosterin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Prey Sifat Sharker / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Predator Michael Allen Smith from Seattle, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative no rights reserved · cc0
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